The Lagos State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Comrade Mustapha Adio Adekunle (a.k.a Sego) and his secretary, Comrade Usman Teslim have been ordered to be remanded in Ikoyi Prison for disobeying court order.
Justice I.J. Essien of the National Industrial Court (Lagos Division) handed out the ruling on Monday, 2 November 2026 at the resumed hearing of the commutal of contempt of judgement earlier delivered on 12 December 2025 over the illegal and unlawful usurpation of the operations of the Three Cycles Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) in Lagos State by the National Union of Road and Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).
The judge had summoned Comrade Mustapha Adio Adekunle (a.k.a Sego) and five others to appear before him on Thursday, 15 October, 2026 to show cause why they should not be commuted to prison for disobeying the court order.
But at the resumed hearing, counsel to the 6th Judgement Debtor, Barr. Babatunde Lawal could not produce his clients in court, a development which infuriated the judge who scolded him for aiding his clients to continually disobey court judgement.
Attempt by the counsel to address the court was futile as the judge told him bluntly he would recognize him if only he was able to produce his clients in court.
Interestingly, legal luminary Femi Falana (SAN) who stood in for another senior lawyer, Dr Muiz Banire (SAN) as counsel to Mustapha Adekunle pleaded with the judge to adjourn the matter to allow him to produce the two judgement debtors in court. Falana undertook to communicate and advised the decision of the court to the clients.
However, the judge was unmoved by Falana’s plea even as he told the senior lawyer that the respondents have flagrantly formed the habit of treating court judgement with ignominy.
“I have heard you but I hate to refuse you. This is for the integrity, honour and sanctity of the court. If everybody disobey court orders then the court is finished,” the judge said.
Justice Essien then ruled that the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies should effect the arrest of Mustapha Sego and Usman Teslim on sight.
He also ordered that the two NURTW officers should be reminded in Ikoyi Prison till Monday, 16 November, 2026, the next adjourned date.
It would be recalled in his earlier judgement, Justice Essien had ordered the respondents which includes the Governor of Lagos State, the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Commissioner for Transport, NURTW, RTEAN and Board of Trustees of the Drivers Association not to interfere in three cycles transport operations, averring that only TOAN has the sole authority to control three cycles operations in the state.
He also ordered the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to set aside government white paper merging the operations of NURTW and TOAN in the interest of peace and sanctity of justice even as he described the act as unlawful take over of powers of the Registrar of Trade Unions.
